Dolphins free agents play for pay

The Miami Dolphins have plenty of cap space in 2013, but a ton of impending free agents, too

October 9, 2012|By Omar Kelly, Commentary

Sean Smith has started 45 games for the Miami Dolphins.

He's laboring to establish himself as one of the NFL's upper echelon cornerbacks, which happens to be a premium paycheck position.

The reality of Smith's situation is he'll likely net about three times as much money on his next signing bonus as he did all four seasons playing out a $3.2 million rookie deal he received as a second-round pick in 2009.

That's the financial structure of the NFL, where young labor usually equates to cheap labor until they hit that second deal.

As one player privately put it, the NFL's a "bottom line business" for everyone involved but the fans. On Sundays it's about the wins and losses, but when it comes to the business side of this $9 billion industry the commas on the contract become the yard markers.

"I'm not going to lie. It definitely crosses your mind from time to time, but at the end of the day when you step on the field all that stuff goes out the window," Smith said about his impending free agency. "Regardless of what year it was for me, my mind-set was to come out here and ball, show my growth."

He's also showing his worth while doing it, effectively shadowing Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald and Cincinnati's A.J. Green, two of the NFL's best receivers, the past two weeks.

Defensive tackle Randy Starks, a nine-year veteran concluding a five-year, $20.5 million contract this season, is also off to a hot start. As is receiver Brian Hartline, tailback Reggie Bush and safety Chris Clemons, three more players on a long list of impending Dolphins free agents.

The Dolphins have $81.8 million in salary tied up in 36 players in 2013. With the cap projected at $121 million that means Miami will have roughly $40 million to spend on re-signing their own, pursuing desirable free agents, and doing deals for draft picks.

That might seem like a lot, but re-signing the Dolphins' homegrown talent will add up.

Smith will likely command a contract that conservatively pays him $6 million a season, which is the going rate for average starting cornerbacks.

Jake Long alone likely will take up about $10 million a season in a multiyear deal, and that figure could skyrocket to $15 million if the Dolphins are forced to place the franchise tag on their four-time Pro Bowler.

Re-signing Long now would be beneficial from a long-term standpoint, and sources say the Dolphins have had those discussions. But a deal isn't close. The same can be said for most, if not all of the impending free agents, many of whom the Dolphins have been negotiating with since April.

It appears these deals might have to wait until the offseason, after they've concluded their play-for-pay performances.

Most free agents don't like playing out a contract year because it exposes them to injury risks. Many buckle to the pressure. However, some play their best seasons in contract years, then cash out. Linebackers Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett both did before becoming Dolphins.

"It's not difficult at all because if you don't perform you won't be anywhere," said Starks, who has contributed 15 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception in the first five games. "When you perform you know you'll have a chance to be somewhere, be in demand."

Tight end Anthony Fasano is one of two Dolphins players (receiver Davone Bess is the other) who landed a contract extension during the season, inking a new deal during the 2009 regular season under General Manager Jeff Ireland's watch.

"You block that side of the game out, at least that's what I try to do," said Fasano, who will earn $3.6 million this season, the final year of that extension. "For me, so far, it has been business as usual."

But that doesn't mean it was always that way, or that it's easy to keep the business side from becoming personal.

"As I've gotten older there's less emotion involved, and it helps, especially during the season. Got to get it out of your mind so you're not thinking a gameplan is being altered one way and you start chasing ghosts that don't exist," Fasano said. "You can't let emotion play a part in it. Hard not to though."